In a recent statement, the Gulf Cooperation Council declared that “Iranian attacks have also led to a sharp loss of confidence by the Council states in Iran, which requires Iran to take the initiative to make serious efforts to rebuild trust.” However, from Iran’s perspective, all sides must recognize their share in the current regrettable state of affairs.
The unprovoked aggression against Iran was the product of blatant miscalculations, based on the illusion that Iran had been weakened and incapable of resisting a massive onslaught by two nuclear powers. Policymakers in Washington and Tel Aviv, along with some regional capitals, convinced themselves that economic pressure, sabotage, and war crimes could break the Islamic Republic. They were wrong. Iran’s measured yet resolute response demonstrated its military resilience and capacity to react on a scale reverberating far beyond the region.
Arab neighbors in the GCC had a grave share in these miscalculations – supporting Saddam Hussein’s aggression, assisting Israel in intercepting Iranian missiles, and allowing the US to use their territories for military actions against Iran. These illegal attacks inflicted extensive human and financial damage on the Iranian people.
Some GCC states mistakenly hoped that Iran would be incapacitated or continue to turn a blind eye to their complicity. That illusion proved tragically wishful, and Iran had no choice but to reluctantly respond in a calibrated fashion to attacks launched or supported from their territories.
To move forward, neighbors must disabuse themselves of distorted perceptions. Iran and its Arab neighbors are here to stay. Iran’s power is home-grown, rooted in a millennial civilization, rich culture, and a young, educated population. The “security-and-development model” pursued by several Arab states has proven deeply flawed: purchasing security through US weapons and bases delivered neither genuine security nor stability.
The war has shown that security cannot be purchased or outsourced. A regional security architecture must be built on shared interests. Iran has previously put forward initiatives like HOPE, MWADA, and MENARA, demonstrating a genuine desire for cooperation. The real question is whether the rest of West Asia will have the wisdom to adapt to that enduring truth.
Source: www.aljazeera.com